Improvement in planking-clamps



l UNITED STATES PATENT QEEICE@ IMPROVEMENT IN PLANKINGFCLANI PS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 54,327, dated May 1, 18.66.

y same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this speciiication, in which- Figure l is a side view of my improved clamp, showing it as applied to a plank, and

Fig. 2 a view of the rear side or end ot' the same.

The principal object sought to be secured by the clamp embraced in the present invention is to eeonomize time in planking and in the building of staging, Ste.

A A in the drawings represent two hooks, eachhung near their ends B and secured by a bolt, C, to the knee or brace D, one upon each side of the same. Through the lower end of this knee or brace B passes a set-screw, E, and through the other or upper end, Ii, a power-screw, Gr. His ascrew-shaft,inserted at one end in the Lipper portion or end, I, of one of the hooks A, and passing loosely through the same end of the other hook, in which, turning upon said screw-shaft, is a screw-sleeve, J, having a raised lip or dan ge, a, upon each end, one flange bearing against the inside edge ot1 the said hook and the other upon the outside edge. This sleeve J is provided With a winchhandle, K, for convenience in turning it, Whereby, if said sleeve be turned in the proper direction to screw upon the said screw-shaft, the

hooks A A will be opened from each other, but brought together or toward each other if turned in the opposite direction, as is obvious by an inspection of the drawings without furi ther explanation.

To use my improved clamp constructed and arranged as above explained, the hooks A are placed one upon one side of the timber M and one upon the other, when, turning the screwsleeve J by its handle K in the proper direction to draw the hooks toward each other, they are made to enter or embed themselves in the sides of the timber, after which the set-screw E is properly adjusted, and then the power-screw G is brought to bear against the edge of the plank N, laid upon the timber lVI with sufficient force and power to rmly and tightly hold it in close contact with the plank O, previously nailed or otherwise properly fastened thereto, when, having secured such plank to the timber by nailing, bolting, or in any other proper manner, the clamp is removed.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The combination of the knee or brace D, having set-screw E and pawl-screw Gr and hooks A, the screw-shaft H, and lian ged screwsleeve J, arra'nged in the back or upper end of the hooks upon said shaft so as to operate upon the hooks, substantially as and for the purpose described.

WESLEY GLENN Witnesses HENRY GLENN, J osEPH N. TEEs. 

